i was surprised that obama didn't bring it up. biggest surprise for me of the night is that it didn't come up. it's been the dominant thing in our debate for the last few weeks. >> david axelrod is coming up. jon meacham, you look over the past 25 years, 30 years or so, and you look at the republican presidential candidates who all have strengths, they've all been remarkable men in their own way, but not good debaters. you know, republicans have held our breath through the john mccain debates and the george w. bush debates and the bob dole debates and the george h.w. debates. again, a great man, a horrific debater. you know, the famous jon lovitz line, "i can't believe i'm losing to this guy." playing michael dukakis. you really do have to go back to ronald reagan to find a republican that was in command during a presidential debate. and i predict that's going to excite the republican base in a way it hasn't been excited in a very long time. we're not used to winning debates like this. >> right. >> i'd even -- i think you're exact